Top 12 Highest Mountains In The World
The highest mountains in the world belong to some of the most majestic and awe-inspiring natural wonders on Earth. Towering peaks that pierce the clouds and sport perpetual snowcaps, they inspire adventurers to test their limits and marvel at the raw power of nature’s creations.
From the familiar peaks of Everest and K2 to the lesser known titans of the Andes and Karakoram, the planet’s loftiest mountains offer unique challenges to climbers brave enough to attempt their summits. Their rarefied air, freezing temperatures, avalanche hazards and sheer vertical slopes demand total commitment, top fitness and specialized gear to even reach their base camps.
Reaching the highest place on Earth remains the ultimate achievement for serious mountaineers. Here are the 12 highest mountains in world by elevation above sea level.
1. Mount Everest
As the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest hardly needs an introduction. This towering peak straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet in the Himalayas, reaching 29,032 feet (8,849 meters) above sea level at its highest point. Everest was formed around 60 million years ago by the upward movement of the Indo-Australian Plate as it collided with the Eurasian Plate.
Everest was named after Sir George Everest, the British surveyor-general of India who established the mountain’s height and location in 1865. However, the mountain already had several local names, including Sagarmatha (“Goddess of the Sky”) in Nepal and Chomolungma (“Mother Goddess of the World”) in Tibet.
Reaching the summit of Everest remains the ultimate mountaineering achievement, one only a select few dare to attempt. Dangerous weather conditions, high winds, lack of oxygen, frostbite and falls make it incredibly perilous, and around 300 people have died trying. The mountain still holds many mysteries and challenges for climbers today.
2. K2
Soaring on the border of Pakistan and China, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world at 28,251 feet (8,611 meters). Part of the Karakoram Range, it lies just 237 miles (380 km) from Everest. K2 is so steep and technically challenging to climb that it is considered even more difficult than Everest, with a much lower success rate.
K2 was first measured in 1856 as Peak K by Thomas Montgomerie of the British Great Trigonometric Survey. Its official name became K2 as it was the 2nd peak measured in the Karakoram mountain range. Other nicknames include the “Savage Mountain” and “Mountaineer’s Mountain” for its extreme technical challenges.
The inherent dangers of K2 climbing were made tragically clear in 2008 when 11 mountaineers died in just one day trying to reach the summit, the worst single accident in K2’s history. Regardless, dedicated mountaineers will continue attempting this formidable mountain that has defeated so many.
3. Kangchenjunga
At 28,169 feet (8,586 meters), Kangchenjunga is the 3rd highest mountain in the world. This enormous peak lies between Nepal and India in the Himalayas, about 125 miles (201 km) southeast of Everest. With five distinct summits, it’s a huge mountain massif made of metamorphic rock. Kangchenjunga translates to “The Five Treasures of Snows”, referring to its five peaks.
Kangchenjunga remained unclimbed until 1955 due to its remoteness, weather and avalanche dangers. The first ascent was made in 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band, who were part of a British expedition. Today, it’s a popular trekking destination, alluring climbers with its dramatic scenery and technical challenges.
4. Lhotse
Lhotse is the 4th highest mountain at 27,940 feet (8,516 meters). It directly connects to Everest via the South Col, forming part of the Everest massif. Lhotse means “South Peak” in Tibetan, as it sits directly south of Everest. It was first climbed in 1956 by the Swiss team of Ernst Reiss and Fritz Luchsinger.
As part of the Everest climbing route, Lhotse attracts skilled climbers desiring to get acclimatized before Everest. However, Lhotse also holds its own appeal, with the steep Lhotse Face and multitude of crevasses posing tough obstacles. Climbers must maintain focus and vigilance to stay safe on this giant connecting to Everest.
5. Makalu
The lone giant of the Mahalangur Himalayas, Makalu is the 5th highest mountain at 27,838 feet (8,485 meters). It lies 14 miles (22 km) southeast of Everest, wholly inside Nepal close to the border with China. This isolated pyramid-shaped peak has four sharp ridges that present technical climbing challenges.
Makalu comes from the Sanskrit word “Mahakala” meaning “Big Black”, likely referring to its steep slopes. The first ascent came in 1955 from a French expedition including Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy. Today, permits are restricted to safeguard Makalu’s remote isolation. Mountaineers flock to Makalu for its beautiful isolated environs and demanding climbing routes.
6. Cho Oyu
Sitting 20 miles (32 km) west of Everest, Cho Oyu is the 6th highest mountain at 26,907 feet (8,188 meters). This is the only one of the 14 highest peaks over 8,000 meters not in the Himalayas, instead lying in the Nepalese-Tibetan border on the Himalayas’ northern escarpment. It separates the basins of the Ganges and the Tsangpo Rivers.
Cho Oyu means “Turquoise Goddess” in Tibetan, referring to its towering beautiful shape. Joseph Jöchler and Herbert Tichy completed the first ascent in 1954. Cho Oyu is considered the safest 8,000 meter peak to climb since it’s relatively straightforward technically, though still demanding and dangerous. This makes it popular for properly acclimatizing before Everest.
7. Dhaulagiri I
Dhaulagiri I is the 7th highest mountain at 26,795 feet (8,167 meters). This colossal peak is located in north central Nepal, forming part of the Dhaulagiri Himalayan Range west of Annapurna. Dhaulagiri translates to “White Mountain” from Sanskrit. It was first climbed in 1960 by a Swiss/Austrian/Nepali team.
Dhaulagiri I has extremely steep ascents on all sides, with massive glacial valleys carved by the Chonbarden, Mayangdi and Myagdi Khola rivers. The south face ascent first completed in the 1970s is 3635 meters (11,932 ft) from base to summit, making it one of the biggest elevation gains in such a short distance. This challenging mountain continues attracting dedicated climbers.
8. Manaslu
Manaslu rises 26,781 feet (8,163 meters) as part of the Nepalese Himalayas about 40 miles (64 km) east of Annapurna. Manaslu comes from the Sanskrit word “Manasa”, meaning “Mountain of the Spirit”. Japanese climbers first reached the summit in 1956. This strenuous climb involves steep ascents up rocky and icy slopes.
Avalanches and bad weather makes Manaslu notoriously dangerous to climb. In 1972, fifteen climbers were killed when an avalanche engulfed their high-altitude camp. The mountain has claimed over 60 lives to date. However, Manaslu remains a popular trekking peak today that both tests climbers and provides spectacular views.
9. Nanga Parbat
Located in Pakistan, Nanga Parbat soars 26,657 feet (8,126 meters). This huge mountain is an anchor at the western end of the Himalayan Range. Nanga Parbat translates to “Naked Mountain” in Urdu. Its steep Rupal Face rising 15,000 ft (4,600 meters) is the tallest mountain face on Earth.
Extremely difficult to climb, Nanga Parbat took a heavy toll before it was first successfully summited in 1953 by Austrian mountaineer Hermann Buhl in a solo climb. He lost all his teammates and six Pakistani porters on the expedition. Today it remains one of the hardest 8,000 meter peaks, but continues luring intrepid mountaineers.
10. Annapurna I
Annapurna I stands at 26,545 feet (8,091 meters) tall in north central Nepal. It’s the 10th highest in the world, but holds the distinction of being the first 8,000 meter peak ever climbed. Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal of a French expedition reached the top in 1950.
Annapurna gets its name from Sanskrit meaning “Goddess of the Harvests”. The mountain has a high fatality rate, partly due to its avalanche-prone slopes. In 1970, 56 climbers were killed in just one avalanche. Annapurna has the greatest fatality-to-summit ratio among the 8,000 meter peaks. But its beautiful stark slopes keep calling mountaineers back.
11. Gasherbrum I
On the China-Pakistan border in the Karakoram Range, Gasherbrum I reaches 26,509 feet (8,080 meters). Its name means “Beautiful Mountain” in Balti. This remote peak near K2 was first climbed in 1958 by an American team including Pete Schoening and Andy Kauffman.
Gasherbrum I is also known as Hidden Peak or K5, part of the Gasherbrum massif. Its summit ridge requires steep and extremely dangerous climbing. Gasherbrum I is sometimes labeled one of the easiest 8,000 meter peaks, but remains very technically challenging and hazardous for even experienced climbers.
12. Broad Peak
The 12th highest mountain lies on the border of Pakistan and China at 26,414 feet (8,051 meters). Broad Peak gets its name from its unusually broad summits, which lie about 1.5 miles across. It’s part of the Gasherbrum massif near K2 and was first climbed in 1957 by an Austrian expedition.
Broad Peak has a reputation as one of the easiest 8,000 meter mountains because of a lack of technically difficult spots along the main route. However, hidden crevasses endanger descending climbers. Broad Peak’s summit sits on the border, with the north side in China and south side in Pakistan. This beautiful mountain remains a coveted peak for elite climbers.
Challenges of Climbing the Highest Mountains
These 12 highest mountains in the world belong to the “death zone” of altitudes over 26,000 feet where oxygen is so scarce humans cannot survive for long. They host some of the most inhospitable environments on the planet.
Freezing temperatures plunge to -76°F (-60°C) while hurricane-force winds blast the barren slopes. Unpredictable avalanches, deep hidden crevasses, unstable ice walls and exposed steep pitches all await climbers who dare to venture into the thin air.
Special high-altitude gear and clothing help climbers survive. Bottled oxygen, sturdy boots with crampons, ice axes, ropes and layers of protective mountain clothing are essential. But ultimately climbers must push body and mind to the limits, testing their endurance and willpower against the most extreme mountain environments.
Those who accept the challenge find themselves profoundly transformed by facing the harshest conditions nature can unleash. Everest and the rest of the planet’s highest peaks will continue to beckon elite mountaineers wanting to push the boundaries of human achievement and discover the outer limits of their spirit.
Conclusion
The highest mountains in the world constitute the most elite club in mountaineering. These skyscraping peaks of rock, ice and snow present nearly superhuman challenges.
Reaching their lofty realms demands total commitment. Those courageous enough to dare the radical extremes of deadly cold, thin air, perilous climbing and unpredictable hazards of the death zone above 26,000 feet earn their places in the chronicles of climbing’s greatest achievements.
From the authoritative pyramid of Everest to enigmatic Makalu, Kanchenjunga’s five treasures and the soaring walls of Dhaulagiri and Nanga Parbat, the world’s dozen highest peaks represent the ultimate testing grounds.
They have humbled many yet had their summits attained by a hardy few willing to risk all for mountaineering glory. The highest mountains will continue to beckon elite climbers wanting to push the edge of human potential and join the ranks of those who’ve stood atop the planet.